I know I am a little late replying to this thread but I can't help but be
worried when a museum professional questions the appropriateness of this
thread for this discussion group? Is it not the core of our existence and
our business to consider and assess what is an important artifact to collect
and preserve not just for now but for future generations. It is also core to
our role in society to look at the multiple meanings and implications that
are associated with objects, both on their own and in the contexct of an
event, a location, a time period, etc.



Virginia Stephen
Executive Director
Edmonton Art Gallery

2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2C1

telephone: 780 422 6223, ext 222
e-mail: [log in to unmask]



>From: Blair Tarr <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [WTC artifact to be burned]
>Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 14:26:55 -0500
>
> >>> PATRICIA MCDOUGALL <[log in to unmask]> 10/18/01 11:38AM >>>
>First of all, I fail to see how this is museum business and therefore
>somewhat
>in appropriate to this list.
>
>Secondly, I am having trouble understanding why people do not think it is
>appropriate to retire this flag.  It is quite obvious by the picture in the
>article that that flag has gone through quite enough and does indeed
>deserve a
>"proper buriel."  I am assuming that people are well aware of the means of
>proper "disposal" of flags that are torn, tattered and that have touched
>the
>ground.  This flag has been subject to all three of these.
>
>I know someone out there will say that we need this as a reminder of how we
>are still stnading a fighting, and a reminder of what has happened to us.
>
>Don't you think we have enough reminders?  Do you think we're going to
>forget
>about what happened without putting that poor flag to rest?
>
>Maybe people are thinking this is a museum topic because they want this
>flag
>in a museum.  But I'm sure we can think of more appropriate "artifacts"
>from
>this disaster than a destroyed flag.
>
>Let's try to keep this list relevant.
>
>Patricia McDougall
>Tour and Reservations Supervisor
>National Air and Space Museum
>
>Lynne Ranieri <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>    A resident of our northern NJ town just called, in response to an
>article in the local paper, about an event to take place this Saturday
>(i.e., in two days), in a nearby community.  Apparently an American flag
>was discovered among the debris from the World Trade Center, after it
>had been transported to Staten Island.  According to the article, "It
>was presented to federal authorities who released it after it
>determining that it had no value as criminal evidence in the attack on
>the buildings."  The article conjectures that the nylon flag "...most
>likely came from an office high in one of the Twin Towers...because it
>was discovered amid debris near the top of the wreckage."
>    The touching image of the flag in the photo that accompanies the
>article shows the approximately two-foot by four-foot flag with tatters,
>tears and scorch marks.  That is not the worst that it will have
>suffered, though, as it is apparently scheduled to be "retired" this
>Saturday, when the local American Legion Post will see it "succumb to
>flames in a formal retirement ceremony", because they apparently feel
>"...it needs a proper burial."
>    The resident feels that this is a dramatic artifact of the event and
>is anxious to see it spared the ignominious fate.  Can anyone on this
>list suggest a place that would also be interested in seeing it spared
>this "memorialization" and can, perhaps, intervene?  I can scan and
>e-mail the article to any interested parties.
>    Thank you
>Lynne
>
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